5-Steps-to-a-5-AP-English-Literature-2015-Edition

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Estelle M. Rankin taught AP Literature at Jericho High School for over 25
years. She was honored with the AP Literature Teacher of the Year award by
the College Board in 1996. She also received the Long Island Teacher of the
Year award in 1990. She was the recipient of the Cornell University
Presidential Scholars’ Award and has been recognized by the C.W. Post Master
Teachers Program.

Ms. Rankin earned her B.A. from Adelphi University and her M.A. from
Hofstra University. She has pursued further graduate work in the field of
creative studies at Queens College and Brooklyn College.

She has done extensive work in the research and development of film, drama,
and creative writing curriculum, SAT prep, and the new NYS Regents
benchmarks for English, and has participated in numerous AP Literature
conferences and workshops. Ms. Rankin is currently a College Board consultant
for pre-AP and AP English. Her finest teachers were her parents, Edward and
Sylvia Stern.

Barbara L. Murphy taught AP Language and other college-level courses at
Jericho High School for over 26 years. She has been a reader of the AP
Language and Composition exam since 1993 and is a consultant for the College
Board’s AP Language and Composition and Building for Success divisions, for
which she has conducted workshops, conferences, and Summer Institutes. She is
currently on the faculty of Syracuse University’s Project Advance in English.

After earning her B.A. from Duquesne University and her M.A. from the
University of Pittsburgh, Ms. Murphy did her doctoral course work at Columbia
University. She also holds professional certifications in still photography and
motion picture production and is one of the founding members of the women’s
film company Ishtar Films.

Ms. Rankin and Ms. Murphy are also the coauthors of McGraw-Hill’s 5
Steps to a 5: AP English Language, Writing the AP English Essay, and
Writing an Outstanding College Application Essay.

CREDITS

From AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner, copyright © 1930 and renewed
1958 by William Faulkner. Used by permission of Random House, Inc.

“To David, About His Education,” by Howard Nemerov, from VOICES: THE
6th BOOK edited by Geoffrey Summerfield, published by Rand McNally and
Company, Chicago, 1969. Used by permission of Margaret Nemerov.

“The Flowers” from IN LOVE & TROUBLE: STORIES OF BLACK WOMEN,
copyright © 1973 by Alice Walker, reprinted by permission of Harcourt, Inc.

“To a Friend Estranged from Me” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. From
COLLECTED POEMS, HarperCollins. Copyright © 1928, 1955 by Edna St.
Vincent Millay and Norma Millay Ellis. All rights reserved. Reprinted by
permission of Elizabeth Barnett, literary executor.

From THE GOLD CELL by Sharon Olds, copyright © 1987 by Sharon Olds.
Used by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc.

“Love Poem” by John Frederick Nims. From SELECTED POEMS BY JOHN F.
NIMS, University of Chicago Press. Copyright © 1982 by John F. Nims.
Reprinted by permission of Bonnie Larkin Nims.

“The Naked and the Nude,” by Robert Graves, from COMPLETE POEMS by
Robert Graves. Used by permission of Carcanet Press Limited, Manchester,
England. On behalf of the Trustees of the Robert Graves Copyright Trust.

“Snake,” from THE COMPLETE POEMS OF D. H. LAWRENCE by D. H.
Lawrence, Viking Press, 1964. Used by permission of Laurence Pollinger
Limited and the Estate of Frieda Lawrence Ravagli.

“The Writer” from THE MIND-HEALER, copyright © 1971 by Richard
Wilbur, reprinted by permission of Harcourt, Inc.

CONTENTS

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Five-Step Program

Step 1 Set Up Your Study Program

1 What You Should Know About the AP Literature Exam
Background on the Advanced Placement Exam
Reasons for Taking the Advanced Placement Exam
What You Need to Know About the AP Lit Exam

2 How to Plan Your Time
Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Literature Exam
Calendars for Preparing for the AP Literature Exam

Step 2 Determine Your Test Readiness

3 The Diagnostic/Master Exam
A Walk Through the Diagnostic/Master Exam
Diagnostic/Master Exam
Afterword

Step 3 Develop Strategies for Success

4 Section I of the Exam: The Multiple-Choice Questions
Introduction to the Multiple-Choice Section of the Exam
Types of Multiple-Choice Questions
Scoring the Multiple-Choice Section
Strategies for Answering the Multiple-Choice Questions
Answer Sheet for Diagnostic Multiple-Choice Questions
The Multiple-Choice Section of the Diagnostic/Master Exam
Answers and Explanations

5 The Prose Passage Essay
Introduction to the Prose Passage Essay

Types of Prose Passage Essay Questions
Rating the Prose Passage Essay
Timing the Essay
Working the Prompt
Reading and Notating the Prose Passage
Writing the Opening Paragraph
Writing the Body
Sample Student Essays
Rating the Student Essays
Rapid Review
6 The Poetry Essay
Introduction to the Poetry Essay
Types of Prompts Used for the Poetry Essay
Timing and Planning the Poetry Essay
Working the Prompt
Reading and Notating the Poetry Selection
Writing the Opening Paragraph
Writing the Body of the Poetry Essay
Sample Student Essays
Rating the Student Essays
Rapid Review
7 The Free-Response Essay
Introduction to the Free-Response Essay
Types of Free-Response Prompts
General Rubrics for the Free-Response Essay
Timing and Planning the Free-Response Essay
Working the Prompt from the Diagnostic/Master Exam
Developing the Opening Paragraph
Developing the Body of the Essay
Sample Student Essays
Rating the Student Essays
Final Comments
Rapid Review

Step 4 Review the Knowledge You Need to Score
High

Introduction to Review Section
8 Comprehensive Review—Prose

Introduction to Prose
Five Aspects of Every Narrative
Types of Novels
Literary Terminology
Prose Analysis
Final Comments
Rapid Review
9 Comprehensive Review—Poetry
Introduction to Poetry
The Structure of Poetry
Types of Poetry
Interpretation of Poetry
Poems for Comparison and Contrast
Rapid Review

Step 5 Build Your Test-Taking Confidence

Practice Exam 1
Section I
Section II
Answers to Multiple-Choice Questions
Answers and Explanations
Rating the Essay Section
Sample Student Essays
Sample Student Essays
Sample Student Essays
Practice Exam 2
Section I
Section II
Answers to Multiple-Choice Questions
Answers and Explanations

Rating the Essay Section
Sample Student Essays
Sample Student Essays
Sample Student Essays

Appendixes

Suggested Reading Guide
Classicism
Realism
Romanticism
Impressionism
Expressionism
Naturalism
General Bibliography
Recommended Poets
Recommended Authors
Glossary
Websites

PREFACE

Welcome to our revised AP Literature class. As we said in the original version
of this book, we are first and foremost teachers who have taught Advanced
Placement to literally thousands of students who successfully took the AP exam.
With this guide, we hope to share with you what we know as well as what we
have learned from our own students.

We see you as a student in our class—only quieter! Our philosophy has
always been NOT to teach only for the AP test. Instead, our goal has always
been to develop those insights, appreciations, and skills that lead to advanced
levels of facility with literature and composition. These are the very same skills
which will enable you to do well on the AP Literature exam. Our aim is to
remove your anxiety and to improve your comfort level with the test. We
believe that you are already motivated to succeed; otherwise, you would not
have come this far. And, obviously, you would not have purchased this prep
book.

Since you are already in an English class, this book is going to supplement
your literature course readings, analysis, and writing. We are going to give you
the opportunity to practice processes and techniques that we know from
experience REALLY WORK! We are confident that if you apply the techniques
and processes presented in this book, you can succeed on the exam.

We have listened to comments and suggestions from both instructors and
students of AP English Literature, and keeping their thoughts in mind, this
revised text has more interactive activities and practice to help hone those skills
needed to do well on the AP Literature exam. You will also find new close
readings with new multiple-choice questions and rationales, and a revised
section on websites of interest to the AP English Literature student.

Let’s begin.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Our love and appreciation to Allan and to Leah for their constant support and
encouragement. Our very special thanks to our professional mentors who have
guided us throughout our careers: Steven Piorkowski and Howard Damon. To
the following for their support and suggestions: Diane Antonucci, Richard
Andres, Mary Moran, Mike Thier, Mark Misthal, Dave Martin, and Edward
Stern—thank you.

The authors wish to acknowledge the participation, insights, and feedback
provided us by the following colleagues and students:

Islip High School:
Teacher: Marge Grossgold
Students: Caitlin Rizzo and Katelyn Zawyrucha

Jericho High School:
Teachers: Diane Antonucci, Michael Hartnett
Students: Tara Arschin, Samantha Brody, Jenna Butner, Julie Ivans, Grace
Kwak, Ari Weiss, Erica Ross, David Swidler, and Sherli Yeroushalmi

Massapequa High School:
Teachers: Sue Bruno and Rosemary Verade
Student: Margaretta Dimos

Solomon Schechter School:
Teachers: Dennis Young and Miriam Fischer
Students: Yadin Duckstein, Ari Lucas, and Jonathan Kotter

Wantagh High School:
Teachers: Sherry Skolnick and Pat Castellano
Student: Lauren Manning

Also, our thanks to Danielle Tumminio and Andrew Brotman.

INTRODUCTION: THE FIVE-STEP
PROGRAM

Some Basics

Consider this section as a map of the new territory you are going to explore. We
will provide the general directions, and you can decide when, where, and how
you will follow this map.

Reading

We believe that reading should be an exciting interaction between you and the
writer. You have to bring your own context to the experience, and you must feel
comfortable reaching for and exploring ideas. You are an adventurer on a
journey of exploration, and we will act as your guides. We will set the itinerary,
but you will set your own pace. You can feel free to “stop and smell the roses”
or to explore new territory.

The Journey

On any journey, each traveler sees something different on new horizons. So, too,
each student is free to personalize his or her own literary experience, provided
he or she tries at all times to strive for excellence and accuracy.

Critical Thinking

There are no tricks to critical thinking. Those who claim to guarantee you a
score of 5 with gimmicks are doing you a disservice. No one can guarantee a 5;
however, the reading and writing skills you will review, practice, and master
will give you the very best chance to do your very best. You will have the
opportunity to learn, to practice, and to master the critical thinking processes
that can empower you to achieve your highest score.

The Beginning

It is our belief that if you focus on the beginning, the rest will fall into place.
Once you purchase this book and decide to work your way through it, you are
beginning your journey to the AP Literature exam. We will be with you every

step of the way.

Why This Book?

We believe we have something unique to offer you. For over 25 years we have
addressed the needs of AP students just like you. And we’ve been fortunate to
learn from these students. Therefore, the content of this book reflects genuine
student concerns and needs. This is a student-oriented book. We will not
overwhelm you with pompous language, mislead you with inaccurate
information and tasks, or lull you into a false sense of confidence with easy
shortcuts. We stand behind every suggestion, process, and question we present.
There is no “busywork” in this book.

We know you will not do every activity. Therefore, think of this book as a
resource and guide to accompany you on your AP Literature journey to the exam.
This book is designed to serve many purposes. It will:

• Clarify requirements for the AP English Literature exam.
• Provide you with test practice.
• Show you rubrics (grading standards) on which you can model and evaluate

your own work.
• Anticipate and answer your questions.
• Enrich your understanding and appreciation of literature.
• Help you pace yourself.
• Make you aware of the Five Steps to Mastering the AP English Literature

exam.

Organization of the Book

We know that your primary concern is to obtain information about the AP
Literature exam. So, we begin at the beginning with an overview of the AP exam
in general. We then introduce you to our Diagnostic/Master exam, which we use
throughout the book to show you the ins and outs of an AP Literature test. In
separate chapters you will become familiar with both sections of the exam. We
will lead you through the multiple-choice questions and explain how you should
answer them. Then we will take you through the essay questions and discuss
approaches to writing these essays.

Because you must be fluent in the language and processes of literary analysis
and composition, we provide a comprehensive review section in both prose and
poetry. This review is not a mere listing of terms and concepts. Rather, it is a
series of practices that will hone your analytical and writing skills. But, do not

fear. You will find terms and concepts clearly delineated within their contexts.
We also provide annotated suggestions for high-interest prose and poetry
readings.

A separate section of the book contains practice exams. Here is where you
will test your skills and knowledge. You may be sure that the prose and poetry
selections included in each exam are on the AP level. The multiple-choice
questions provide you with practice in responding to typical types of questions
asked in past AP exams. The essay questions are designed to cover the
techniques and terms required by the AP exam. The free-response essays are
both challenging and specific, yet they are broad enough to suit all curricula.
After taking each test, you can check yourself against the explanations of every
multiplechoice question and the ratings of the sample student essays.

The final section is one that you should not pass over. It presents a Suggested
Reading Guide, a General Bibliography, a Glossary of Terms that may be of
importance to you, and a list of websites related to the AP Literature exam.

Introduction to the Five-Step Preparation
Program

The Five-Step Program is a powerful program designed to provide you with
the best possible skills, strategies, and practice to help lead you to that perfect 5
on the Advanced Placement English Literature exam that is administered each
May to more than 350,000 high school students. Each of the five steps will
provide you with the opportunity to get closer and closer to the 5, which is the
gold medal to all AP students.

Step 1: Set Up Your Study Program

• Useful information about the Advanced Placement program and exams
• Three alternative study schedules and advice for determining which is best for

you

Step 2: Determine Your Test Readiness

• A first look at the overall exam, to be repeated in greater detail later

Step 3: Develop Strategies for Success

• Learn about the test itself
• Learn to read multiple-choice questions

• Learn how to answer multiple-choice questions, including whether or not to
guess

• Learn how to deconstruct the essay prompts
• Learn how to plan the essay

Step 4: Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

• Practice activities that will hone your skills in close reading
• Practice activities in critical thinking
• Practice activities in critical/analytical writing

Step 5: Build Your Test-Taking Confidence

• Two practice exams that test how well honed your skills are
• Rubrics for self-evaluation

Finally, at the back of the book you’ll find additional resources to aid your
preparation. These include:

• A comprehensive review of literary analysis
• A glossary of terms
• A bibliography for further reading
• A list of websites related to the AP English Literature exam

The Graphics Used in This Book

To emphasize particular skills and strategies, we use several icons throughout
this book. An icon in the margin will alert you that you should pay particular
attention to the accompanying text. We use three icons:

This icon points out a very important concept or fact that you should not pass
over.

This icon calls your attention to a problem-solving strategy that you may want to
try.

This icon indicates a tip that you might find useful.
Boldfaced and italicized words indicate important terms as well as those

that are included in the glossary at the back of the book.
Throughout the book you will find margin notes and boxes. We want you to

pay close attention to these areas because they can provide tips, hints, strategies,
and explanations that will help you reach your full potential.

STEP 1

STEP 1

Set Up Your Study Program

CHAPTER 1 What You Should Know About the AP Literature Exam
CHAPTER 2 How to Plan Your Time



CHAPTER 1

What You Should Know About the AP
Literature Exam

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary: Information about the AP English Literature and Composition exam
and its scoring

Key Ideas
Learn answers to frequently asked questions
Learn how your final score is calculated
Learn tips for successfully taking the exam

Background on the Advanced Placement Exam

“AP” does not stand for “Always Puzzling.” The following should help lift the
veil of mystery associated with the AP exam.

What is the Advanced Placement program?

The Advanced Placement program was begun by the College Board in 1955 to
construct standard achievement exams that would allow highly motivated high
school students the opportunity to be awarded advanced placement as freshmen
in colleges and universities in the United States. Today, there are 35 courses
and exams with more than a million students from every state in the nation, and
from foreign countries, taking the annual exams in May.

As is obvious, the AP programs are designed for high school students who
wish to take college-level courses. The AP Literature course and exam are
designed to involve high school students in college-level English studies in both
literature and composition.

Who writes the AP Literature exam?

According to the folks at the College Board, the AP Literature exam is created
by college and high school English instructors called the AP Development
Committee. The committee’s job is to ensure that the annual AP Literature exam
reflects what is being taught and studied in college-level English classes in high
schools.

This committee writes a large number of multiple-choice questions that are
pretested and evaluated for clarity, appropriateness, and range of possible
answers. The committee also generates a pool of essay questions, pretests them,
and chooses those questions that best represent the full range of the scoring
scale to allow the AP readers to evaluate the essays fairly.

It is important to remember that the AP Literature exam is thoroughly
evaluated after it is administered each year. This way, the College Board can
use the results to make course suggestions and to plan future tests.

What are the Advanced Placement grades, and who
receives them?

Once you have taken the exam and it has been scored, your test will be assigned
one of five numbers by the College Board:

• 5 indicates you are extremely well qualified.
• 4 indicates you are well qualified.
• 3 indicates you are qualified.
• 2 indicates you are possibly qualified.
• 1 indicates you are not qualified to receive college credit.

A grade of 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 will be reported to your college or university first,
to your high school second, and to you third. All this reporting is usually
completed by the middle to end of July.

Reasons for Taking the Advanced Placement Exam

At some point during the year, every AP student asks the ultimate question: Why
am I taking this exam?

Good question. Why put yourself through a year of intensive study, pressure,
stress, and preparation? To be honest, only you can answer that question. Over
the years, our students have indicated to us that there are several prime reasons
why they were willing to take the risk and to put in the effort:

• For personal satisfaction
• To compare themselves with other students across the nation

• Because colleges look favorably on the applications of students who elect to
enroll in AP courses

• To receive college credit or advanced standing at their colleges or universities
• Because they love the subject
• So that their families will really be proud of them

There are plenty of other reasons, but no matter what the other reasons might
be, the top reason for your enrolling in the AP Lit course and taking the exam in
May should be to feel good about yourself and the challenges you have met.

What You Need to Know About the AP Lit Exam

Let’s answer a few of the nitty-gritty questions about the exam and its scoring.

If I don’t take an AP Lit Course, can I still take the AP
Lit exam?

Yes. Even though the AP Lit exam is designed for the student who has had a
year’s course in AP Literature, there are high schools that do not offer this type
of course, yet there are students in these high schools who have also done well
on the exam. However, if your high school does offer an AP Lit course, by all
means take advantage of it and the structured background it will provide you.

How is the Advanced Placement Literature exam
organized?

The exam has two parts and is scheduled to last 3 hours. The first section is a
set of multiple-choice questions based on a series of prose passages and poems.
You will have 1 hour to complete this part of the test. The second section of the
exam is a 2-hour essay-writing segment consisting of three different essays: one
on prose, one on poetry, and one free-response.

After you complete the multiple-choice section and hand in your test booklet
and scan sheet, you will be given a brief break. Note that you will not be able to
return to the multiple-choice questions when you return to the examination room.

Must I check the box at the end of the essay booklet
that allows the AP people to use my essays as samples
for research?

No. This is simply a way for the College Board to make certain that it has your

permission if it decides to use one or more of your essays as a model. The
readers of your essays pay no attention to whether or not that box is checked.
Checking the box will not affect your grade.

How is my AP Lit exam scored?

Let’s look at the basics first. The multiple-choice section counts for 45 percent
of your total score, and the essay section counts for 55 percent. Next comes a
four-part calculation: the raw scoring of the multiple-choice section, the raw
scoring of the essay section, the calculation of the composite score, and the
conversion of the composite score into the AP grade of 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1.

How is the multiple-choice section scored?

The scan sheet with your answers is run through a computer that counts the
number of correct answers. Questions left blank and questions answered
incorrectly are treated the same and get no points. There is no longer a
“guessing penalty,” which formerly involved the deduction of a fraction of a
point for answering a question but getting it wrong.

How is my essay section scored?

Each of your essays is read by a different, trained AP reader called a faculty
consultant. The AP/College Board people have developed a highly successful
training program for these readers. This factor, together with many opportunities
for checks and double checks of essays, ensures a fair and equitable reading of
each essay.

The scoring guides are carefully developed by a chief faculty consultant, a
question leader, table leaders, and content experts. All faculty consultants are
then trained to read and score just one essay question on the exam. They actually
become experts in that one essay question. No one knows the identity of any
writer. The identification numbers and names are covered, and the exam
booklets are randomly distributed to the readers in packets of 25 randomly
chosen essays. Table leaders and the question leader review samples of each
reader’s scores to ensure that quality standards are consistent.

Each essay is scored as 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1, plus 0, with 9 the highest
possible score. Once your essay is given a number from 9 to 1, the next set of
calculations is completed. Here, if there are 27 possible points divided into 55
percent of the total possible score, each point awarded is given a value of
3.055. The formula looks something like this:

How is my composite score calculated?

The total composite score for the AP Lit test is 150. Of this score, 55 percent is
the essay section; that equals 82.5 points. The multiple-choice section is 45
percent of the composite score, which equals 67.5 points. Each of your three
essays is graded on a 9-point scale; therefore, each point is worth 3.055. Divide
the number of multiple-choice questions by 67.5. For instance, if there were 55
questions, each point of the raw score would be multiplied by 1.227.

If you add together the raw scores of each of the two sections, you will have
a composite score. We provide practice with this process in the two practice
exams in this book.

How is my composite score turned into the grade that is
reported to my college?

Keep in mind that the total composite scores needed to earn a 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 are
different each year. This is determined by a committee of AP/College
Board/Educational Testing Service directors, experts, and statisticians. The
grading is based on items such as:

• AP distribution over the past three years
• Comparability studies
• Observations of the chief faculty consultant
• Frequency distributions of scores on each section and the essays
• Average scores on each exam section and essays

“Over the years, in comparison to students who fight the material, I’ve found students
who receive the 4s and 5s are those who truly allow themselves to relate to the literature
covered in the class.”
—Pat K. AP teacher

However, over the years a trend is apparent which indicates the number of
points required to achieve a specific grade:

• 150–100 points = 5
• 99–86 = 4
• 85–67 = 3

Grades 2 and 1 fall below this range. You do not want to go there.

What should I bring to the exam?

You should bring:

• Several pencils with erasers
• Several black pens (black ink is easier to read than other colors)
• A watch
• Something to drink—water is best
• A quiet snack, like Life Savers
• Tissues

Is there anything else I should be aware of?

You should be aware of the following:

• Allow plenty of time to get to the test site.
• Wear comfortable clothing.
• Eat a light breakfast or lunch.
• Remind yourself that you are well prepared and that the test is an enjoyable

challenge and a chance to share your knowledge. Be proud of yourself! You
worked hard all year. Now is your time to shine.

Is there anything special I should do the night before
the exam?

We certainly don’t advocate last-minute cramming. If you’ve been following the
guidelines, you won’t have to cram. But there may be a slight value to some last-
minute review. Spend the night before the exam relaxing with family or friends.
Watch a movie; play a game; gab on the phone, blog, or Twitter. Then find a
quiet spot. While you’re unwinding, flip through your own notebook and review
sheets. Recall some details from the full-length works you’ve prepared and
think of your favorite scenes. By now, you’re bound to be ready to drift off.
Pleasant dreams.



CHAPTER 2

How to Plan Your Time

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary: Assess your own study patterns and preparation plans

Key Ideas
Explore three approaches
Choose a calendar that works for you

Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP
Literature Exam

No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you do. So you
are the only one who can decide which approach you want and/or need to adopt
to prepare for the Advanced Placement Literature exam. Look at the brief
profiles below. These may help you to place yourself in a particular prep mode.

You’re a full-year prep student (Approach A) if:
1. You’re the kind of person who likes to plan for a vacation or the prom a year

in advance.
2. You’d never think of missing a practice session, whether it’s your favorite

sport, musical instrument, or activity.
3. You like detailed planning and everything in its place.
4. You feel you must be thoroughly prepared.
5. You hate surprises.
6. You’re always early for appointments.

You’re a one-semester prep student (Approach B) if:

1. You begin to plan for your vacation or the prom 4–5 months before the event.
2. You are willing to plan ahead so that you will feel comfortable in stressful

situations, but you are okay with skipping some details.
3. You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or

two does not floor you.
4. You’re always on time for appointments.

You’re a 4–6 week prep student (Approach C) if:

1. You accept or find a date for the prom a week before the big day.
2. You work best under pressure and tight deadlines.
3. You feel very confident with the skills and background you’ve gained in your

AP Literature class.
4. You decided late in the year to take the exam.
5. You like surprises.
6. You feel okay if you arrive 10–15 minutes late for an appointment.

CALENDARS FOR PREPARING FOR THE AP
LITERATURE EXAM

This is a personal journey, and each of you will have particular time constraints.
Choose the calendar that will work best for you.

Calendar for Approach A:
Yearlong Preparation for the AP Literature Exam

Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP
Literature exam you will take in May, this book can enrich
your study of literature, your analytical skills, and your
writing skills.

SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER (Check off the activities as you
complete them.)

_______ Determine the student mode into which you place yourself.
_______ Carefully read Chapters 1 and 2.
_______ Pay close attention to the walk through the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Get on the Web and take a look at the AP website(s).
_______ Skim the Comprehensive Review section.
_______ Buy a highlighter.
_______ Flip through the entire book. Break the book in. Write in it. Highlight

it.
_______ Get a clear picture of what your own school’s AP Literature

curriculum is.
_______ Review the Bibliography and establish a pattern of outside reading in

the literary genres.
_______ Begin to use the book as a resource.

NOVEMBER (The first 10 weeks have elapsed.)

_______ Write the free-response essay in the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Compare your essay with the sample student essays.
_______ Refer to the section on the free-response essay.
_______ Take five of our prompts and write solid opening paragraphs.

DECEMBER

_______ Maintain notes on literary works you studied in and out of class.
_______ Refine your analytical skills.
_______ Write the prose passage or poetry essay in the Diagnostic/Master

exam. (This will depend on the organization of your own curriculum.)
_______ Compare your essay with sample student essays.

JANUARY (20 weeks have elapsed.)

_______ Write the third essay in the Diagnostic/Master exam. (This will
depend on the one you did previously.)

_______ Compare your essay with sample student essays.

FEBRUARY

_______ Take the multiple-choice section of the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Carefully go over the explanations of the answers to the questions.
_______ Score yourself honestly.
_______ Make a note of terms, concepts, and types of questions that give you

difficulty.
_______ Review troublesome terms in the Glossary.

MARCH (30 weeks have elapsed.)

_______ Form a study group.
_______ Outline or create a chart for full-length works that would be

appropriate for the free-response essay.
_______ Choose a favorite poem and create an essay question to go with it, or

use one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Choose a prose passage or essay and create an essay question to go

with it, or choose one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Write the poetry essay.
_______ Write the prose essay.
_______ Compare essays and rate them with your study group. (Use our

rubrics.)

APRIL

_______ Take Practice Test 1 in the first week of April.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Practice creating multiple-choice questions of different types with

your study group.
_______ Develop and review worksheets for and with your study group.

MAY—First 2 Weeks (THIS IS IT!)

_______ Highlight only those things in the Glossary you are still unsure of. Ask

your teacher for clarification. Study!
_______ Thoroughly prepare three to five complete, full-length works; include

several quotations that you can work into various responses.
_______ Write at least three times a week under timed conditions.
_______ Take Practice Test 2.
_______ Score yourself.
_______ Give yourself a pat on the back for how much you have learned and

improved over the past nine months.
_______ Go to the movies. Call a friend.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.

GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST.

Calendar for Approach B:
Semester-Long Preparation for the AP Literature Exam

Working under the assumption that you’ve completed one
semester of literature studies, apply those skills you’ve
learned to prepare for the May exam.

You have plenty of time to supplement your course work
by taking our study recommendations, maintaining literary
notations, doing outside readings, and so on.

We divide the next 16 weeks into a workable program of
preparation for you.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY (Check off the activities as you
complete them.)

_______ Carefully read Chapters 1 and 2.
_______ Write the three essays in the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Compare your essays with the sample student essays.
_______ Complete the multiple-choice section of the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Carefully go over the answers and explanations of the answers.
_______ Take a close look at the Bibliography for suggestions on possible

outside readings.

MARCH (10 weeks to go.)

_______ Form a study group.
_______ Outline or create a chart for full-length works that would be

appropriate for the free-response essay.
_______ Choose a favorite poem and create an essay question to go with it, or

use one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Choose a prose passage or essay and create an essay question to go

with it, or choose one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Write the poetry essay.
_______ Write the prose essay.
_______ Compare essays and rate them with your study group. (Use our

rubrics.)

APRIL

_______ Take Practice Test 1 in the first week of April.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Practice creating multiple-choice questions of different types with

your study group.
_______ Develop and review worksheets for and with your study group.

MAY First 2 Weeks (THIS IS IT!)

_______ Highlight only those things in the Glossary you are still unsure of. Ask
your teacher for clarification. Study!

_______ Thoroughly prepare at least three to five complete, full-length works;
include several quotations that you can work into various questions.

_______ Write at least three times a week under timed conditions.
_______ Take Practice Test 2.
_______ Score yourself.
_______ Give yourself a pat on the back for how much you have learned and

improved over the past nine months.
_______ Go to the movies. Call a friend.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.

GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST.

Calendar for Approach C:
4-6 Week Preparation for the AP Literature Exam

At this point, we are going to assume that you have been
developing your literary, analytical, and writing skills in
your English class for more than 6 months. You will,
therefore, use this book primarily as a specific guide to the
AP Literature exam.

Remember, there is a solid review section in this text to
which you should refer.

Given the time constraints, now is not the time to try to
expand your AP Literature background. Rather, it is the time
to limit and refine what you already know.

APRIL

_______ Skim through Chapters 1 and 2.
_______ Carefully go over the “rapid reviews.”
_______ Strengthen, clarify, and correct areas you are weak in after taking the

Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Write a minimum of three sample opening paragraphs for each of the

three types of essays.
_______ Write a minimum of two timed essays for each type of essay on the

exam.
_______ Complete Practice Test 1.
_______ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
_______ Refer to appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Refer to the Bibliography.
_______ If you feel unfamiliar with specific poetic forms, refer to the list of

suggested, appropriate works.
_______ Create review sheets for three to five solid, full-length works.
_______ Skim and highlight the Glossary.
_______ Develop a weekly study group to hear each other’s essays and to

discuss literature.

“One of the first steps to success on the AP exam is knowing your own study habits.”
—Margaret R. AP English teacher

MAY—First 2 Weeks (THIS IS IT!)

_______ Complete Practice Test 2.
_______ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
_______ Refer to appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Go to the movies. Call a friend.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.

GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST.

STEP 2

STEP 2

Determine Your Test Readiness

CHAPTER 3 The Diagnostic/Master Exam



CHAPTER 3

The Diagnostic/Master Exam

IN THIS CHAPTER

Summary: Put yourself to the test with the diagnostic exam

Key Ideas
Peruse the multiple-choice section in Part I of the exam
Familiarize yourself with the essays in Part II

A Walk Through the Diagnostic/Master Exam

This chapter presents our version of an Advanced Placement Literature and
Composition Exam which we use throughout this book to demonstrate
processes, examples, terms, and so on. We call this the Diagnostic/Master
exam. You will not be taking this exam at this point, but we would like you to
“walk through” the exam with us now.

“You know, from my experience with AP exams, I’ve learned never to assume anything.”
—Jeremy G. AP student

The first part of this 3-hour exam is always the multiple-choice section,
which lasts 1 hour. It is related to both prose passages and poetry. The multiple-
choice section of the Diagnostic/Master exam contains two prose passages from
different time periods and of different styles. It also has two poems from
different time periods and of different forms. The multiple-choice questions for
each selection were developed to provide you with a wide range of question
types and terminology that have been used in the actual AP Lit exams over the
years.

To begin to know what the exam looks like, take some time to look through
the multiple-choice section of the Diagnostic/Master exam. Do not try to answer
the questions; just peruse the types of passages and questions.

• Take a turn through all of the pages of the test and familiarize yourself with the
format.

• See where the longer and shorter readings are.
• See how many prose and poetry passages there are.
• Check the total number of questions and know what you are facing.
• Check out the essay prompts.

A Word About Our Sample Student Essays

We field-tested each of the essay questions in a variety of high schools, both
public and private. We could have chosen to present essays that would have
“knocked your socks off,” but we chose to present samples that are truly
representative of the essays usually written within the time constraints of the
exam.

These essays are indicative of a wide range of styles and levels of
acceptability. We want you to recognize that there is not one model to which all
essays must conform.

“To Thine Own Self Be True” (Polonius—Hamlet)

“Be true to yourself” is always the best advice and is especially appropriate for
a writer. Listen to your teacher’s advice; listen to our advice; listen to your
own voice. Yours is the voice we want to “hear” in your writing. Use natural
vocabulary and present honest observations. It is wonderful to read professional
criticism, but you cannot adopt someone else’s ideas and remain true to your
own thoughts. Trust your brain—if you’ve prepared well, you’ll do well.

DIAGNOSTIC/MASTER EXAM

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition
Section I

Total Time—1 hour
Carefully read the following passages and answer the questions that come after
them.

Questions 1–10 are based on the next passage.

1. The poem is an example of a(n)
A. sonnet
B. lyric

C. ode
D. ballad
E. dramatic monologue

2. The setting of the sun is a symbol for
A. the beginning of winter
B. encountering danger
C. the end of a relationship
D. facing death
E. the onset of night

3. The second stanza is developed primarily by
A. metaphor
B. simile
C. personification
D. hyperbole
E. allusion

4. “He” in line 15 refers to
A. Wisdom
B. Truth
C. I
D. Pride
E. charity

5. According to the speaker, what separates man from beast?
A. love
B. friendship
C. charity
D. truth
E. wisdom

6. For the speaker, the relationship has been all of the following except
A. honest
B. dangerous
C. spiritual
D. ephemeral
E. nourishing

7. The reader can infer from the play on words in the last stanza that the
speaker is
A. dying
B. frantic
C. wistful
D. bitter
E. capricious

8. “This once holy place” (line 12) refers to
A. the sunset
B. the relationship
C. the sea
D. the circus
E. the Church

9. The cause of the relationship’s situation is
A. a stranger coming between them
B. the lover not taking the relationship seriously
C. the lover feeling intellectually superior
D. the lover’s pride coming between them
E. the lover being insensitive

10. The speaker acknowledges the finality of the relationship in line(s)
A. 1–2
B. 7
C. 8
D. 16
E. 18–19

Questions 11–23 are based on the following passage.

11. In the passage, darkness implies all of the following except